When any alarming news is brought you, always
have it ready in mind that no news can be
brought you concerning what is within the power of
your own Will. Can any one bring you news that
your opinions or desires are ill conducted? By no
means; only that such a person is dead. What is
that to you then? That somebody speaks ill of you.
And what is that to you then? That your father is
perhaps forming some contrivance or other. Against
what? Against your Will? How can he? No; but
against your body, against your estate? You are very
safe; this is not against you. But the Judge has
pronounced you guilty of impiety. And did not the
Judges pronounce the same of Socrates? Is his pronouncing a sentence any business of yours? No.
Then why do you any longer trouble yourself about
it? There is a duty incumbent on your father, which
unless he performs, he loses the character of a father,
of natural affection, of tenderness. Do not desire him
to lose anything else by this; for every man suffers
precisely where he errs. Your duty, on the other
hand, is to meet the case with firmness, modesty, and
mildness; otherwise you forfeit piety, modesty, and
nobleness. Well, and is your Judge free from danger? No; he runs an equal hazard. Why, then,
are you still afraid of his decision? What have you
to do with the ills of another? Meeting the case
wrongly would be your own ill. Let it be your only
care to avoid that; but whether sentence is passed
on you or not, as it is the business of another, so the
ill belongs to him. "Such a one threatens you."
Me? No. "He censures you." Let him look to it,
how he does his own duty. " He will give an unjust
sentence against you." Poor wretch !